First Hop…Apara -> TCS

Things have changed a lot in since the last time I updated my blog. Hmm.. i’ll just start off and continue writing about my journey.

 

I started hunting for new job right away, and I got myself enrolled in few consultancies and forwarded my resumes to many companies. Soon, I got a call from Tata Consultancy Services. By the time wrote my 1st round written exam for TCS, I was well seasoned since I had already attended a few interviews..heheh

TCS interview 1st round (written exam) was quite an experience. I had prepared by going thru a few archived placement papers. I had my exam on a gloomy saturday at around 2 pm, Venue: Dr. Ambedkar College of Engineering. I reached the venue to see a queue of about 1k to 2k people!!!.. Well for a moment I thought of returning back but then later decided to join the queue. TO make matters worse, it started raining, but no one moved out of queue :-0……I felt shattered to see security personnel shouting at Engineering graduates drenching in rain, instead of helping them out…Apart from this incident, TCS had organised the event well. About 12 -15 thousand people attended the 1st round of  interview in 2 days.
After about 2 weeks, the results were out and I had made it to 2nd round.

Again my second round was at the same venue, and it was again on an overcast saturday morning. I met many friends who had also made it to 2nd round. I met my school friend- Mantu, who gave me some valuable tips just before my interview. It was a grilling 45 minutes interview, followed by an HR interview. By the end of it, I knew that I had cleared and was soon will be TCSer.

I put my papers in Apara and I was asked to serve a months notice period.
November 30th 2006, was my emotional last day at Apara, we partyed at my colleagues’ room that evening. I checked my mail at his place.

I had got a mail which was from ILP.Support@tcs.com, which read

"In order to equip you for an enriching career in the IT industry, TCS has planned to start your Initial Learning Programme (ILP) from 18th December ’06 at Trivandrum.

                 Address of ILP CENTRE –

                 TRIVANDRUM TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LTD

                 Technopark Campus Karyavattom Trivandrum 695581

Clearance of pre-employment medicals is mandatory to join TCSL. The ILP joining letter will be sent to you only if you clear the pre-employment medicals.

Please make your travel arrangements to Trivandrum well in advance. Travel expenses are to be borne by you. Detailed ILP joining letter (with all annexure) will be sent to you at your permanent address by TCS Bangalore "

Well, I was really excited to see this mail. Last day at Apara was equally as surprising as my first day at Apara.